“You were once an idea in the mind of almighty God. . . . You are the physical manifestation of God’s eternal plans and purposes. Simply put, you are God’s what if.”- Mark Batterson Chapters 15-26 of If encompass The Third If– What If. In the brief introduction, Mark Batterson states that dreams always start […]
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”- Helen Keller One of the oldest books in Mark Batterson’s library is a vintage volume authored by Helen Keller. Copyrighted in 1903, the book is titled Optimism. As Chapter 14 (“Eternal Optimist”) of If begins, Pastor Batterson delineates the importance and role […]
“Whatever God says, that’s how we reckon.”- Mark Batterson “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”- Romans 8:18 (KJV) Mark Batterson begins Chapter 13 of If with a discussion of Romans 8:18. He states that the Greek […]
“Nothing slows us down like trying to get ahead of God.”- Mark Batterson In Chapter 12 (“The Scenic Route”) of If, Mark Batterson questions whether we’re the most impatient people in the history of mankind. He adds that “we wear busyness like a badge, like an honor roll bumper sticker.” If you are dependent on […]
“Therefore is where as if begins.”- Mark Batterson Four-fifths of Americans had heard George Whitefield preach in person prior to the Revolutionary War. During his thirty-four year preaching career, Whitefield preached 18,000 sermons. That is more than one sermon per day! What motivated George Whitefield? He preached as if it were true, and he was […]
“Verse 3 [Romans 8] is the ultimate what if– ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ But the if in verse 10- ‘If Christ is in you’- is the ultimate as if.” Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 10 of If by noting that sports teams often memorialize a fallen comrade by putting that person’s […]
“The reality is this; you’re a sinner in need of a Savior. But you are also more than a conqueror.”- Mark Batterson “No, in all these things were are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”- Romans 8:37 In Chapter 10 (“The Power of Suggestion”) of If, Mark Batterson asserts that as if is […]
“There are some things I refuse to say because it gives them power. I call it my “Say Not” list.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 9 of If by stressing the need for faith-based anchors. For example, a prized possession of Pastor Batterson’s is a well-lived 1934 Thompson Chain-Reference Bible that belonged to his […]
“Response-ability . . . the ability to choose your response in any set of circumstances . . . being accountable for your response no matter what.”- Mark Batterson “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”- Romans 8:6 (NRSV) Mark Batterson (If– […]
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.”- Hebrews 6:19 (ESV) In Chapter 9 (“The Anchoring Effect”) of If, Mark Batterson discusses what psychologists refer to as the “anchoring effect”- our tendency to rely too heavily on the first fact […]
“Spiritually speaking, it’s our quick-twitch reactions that make or break us at critical moments.””- Mark Batterson As an ex-collegiate and high school basketball player, Mark Batterson knows it’s the quick-twitch muscles that enable you to dunk a basketball. On a spiritual level, you have quick-twitch reactions the split-second after someone offends you, insults you, or […]
As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 8 of If, he discusses the quickening of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Batterson states that it isn’t enough just to read the Bible. Merely reading the Bible is comparable to auditing a class in college. You receive no credit for an audit. As Mark points out, “you’ve simply been educated […]